Coupling



June 5, 1945. A. T. SCHEIWERI COUPLING Filed Jan. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 5', 1945. A, T. SCHEIWER COUPLING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1943 awww v e a: I

June 5, 1945.

A. T. ISCHEIWER 2,3?7,812

COUPLING Filed Jan. 20, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 5, 1945.

A. T. SCHEIWER 2,377,812

COUPLING Filed Jan. 20, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 5, I945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v 321 230 I a .Applicatioi: 21:32:31?) 473,032

This application relates generally to couplings, and more particularly to swiveling, quickly attachable and detachable couplings.

All devices 01' this character made according to the teachings of the prior art, and with which I am familiar, especially those having check valves, have had a restricted area for the passage of fluid. Many couplings now on the market do not swivel and they become uncoupled in use. Prior couplings required two hands to make the coupling, which has been a hindrance in many situations.

The check valves in prior couplings-have a tendency to tilt thereby looking it, and thereby permitting free flow oi fluid. It is accordingly, an object of my invention to overcome the above and other defects in couplings and it is more particularly an object of my invention-to provide a quickly attachable and detachable coupling which is simple in construction, economical in cost and manufacture, easy to operate, and eiiicient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fluid tight swiveling coupling which can be snapped together with one hand.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupling which is detachable only by the intervention of manual means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupling having a check valve disposed thereon which has a maximum unrestricted area for the flow oi fluid therethrough.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel check valve in a coupling.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupling wherein a snapconnection can be made by merely inserting the male member into the female member.

Other objects of my invention will become evident irom the following detailed description taken vin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isa side elevational view with parts broken away of my novel coupling in a locked position.

Fig. 2 is an exploded side elevational view with parts broken away of my novel coupling in an unlocked position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view with parts broken away oi my novel coupling with the male member about to enter the female member.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view 01' the check valve in my novel coupling.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the check valve shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view with parts broken away oi a modified term of my invention.

Fig. 8 is an exploded side elevational view with parts broken away of the coupling shown in Fig. 9 is a view taken on. the line 8-4 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the check valve plate shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of another form of the connecting portion of the male member.

' coupling.

Fig. 13 is an end view of the check valve used in the coupling shown in Fig. 12'.

Fig. 14 is a side elevational viewwith parts broken away of my novel coupling showing another form of check valve.

Fig. 15 is an exploded side elevational view with parts broken away of the coupling shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a view Fig. 1%.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the check valve in my novel coupling shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away of another form of male connecting member used with the check valve shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view with parts broken away of my novel coupling showing the check valve in the male member.

Fig. 19 is a side elevational view with parts broken away of the male member shown in Fig. 18,

Fig. 20 is a view Fig. 18. s

Fig. 21 is an end elevational view of the check valve shown in Fig. 18.

Figs. 22 and 23 are side elevational views in two diflerent planes of the check valve shown in Fig. 18.

Fig. 24 is a side elevational view with parts broken away of a coupling substantially the same as shown in Fig. 18 with the exception of different sealing means for the end of the male member.

Fig. 25 is an end view of the washer shown assembled in Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a side elevational view in cross-section of the washer in Fig. 25.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 6- shows a male member I having a shoulder 2, a connecting portion I and an annular groove 6. A female member 6 has spaced internal shoulders 6 and I. a threaded stop member 8, araised annular external shoulder 9 and ball retaining apertures III. A sleeve ll surrounding the female member 5 and movable longitudinally thereon has an internal groove I2, internal and external shoulders i3 and I4, and a handle portion It. A spring it engages the inner shoulder it of the sleeve II and the external shoulder 9 taken on the line itit oi taken on the line it-4i] oi of the female member sleeve II against a spring locking clip I9 dis-- posed in a groove 20 on the inner side of the cover I1.

A U-shaped washer 2I is disposed between the internal shoulders 6 and 1 of the female member to engage the end of the connecting portion 2 of the male member I to provide a fluid-tight seal.

A longitudinally movable check valve 22 shown specifically in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises a plate 23, a washer 24 on the face of the plate which seats on the internal shoulder 6 of the female memher 5, and an axially extending contacting member 25 having radially extending fins 26 and cutaway portions 21 adjacent the plate 23. The contacting member 25 is engaged by the connecting portion 2 of the male member I when it is in engagement with the female member 5 to push the washer 24 on the plate member 23 away from the internal shoulder Ii of the female member 5. By providing a valve wbth radially extending fins 25 with cut-away portions 21 immediately adjacent the plate member 23, a maximum lntemal area for the flow of liquid through the coupling- 'is provided as will be apparent upon inspection.

A spring 23 urges the plate member 23 and washer 24 against the internal shoulder 6 of the female member 5 when the male and female members I and 5 are not connected to provide a fluid-tight seal.

In operation,. the parts of the female member 5 before connection is as shown in Fig. 2 with the ball members 50 free to move outwardly in the groove I2 in the sleeve II. Upon insertion of the connecting portion of the male member I into the female member 5 as shown in Fig. 3, the cover I1 is forced longitudinally relative to the sleeve II to a position where it is stopped by the end of the female member 5 and the stop member II. This movement of the cover I1 compresses the spring I8 which forces the sleeve II longitudinally when the ball members 50 move into the annular groove 4 on the male member I to lock the ball members 50 securely into engagement with the groove 4 on the male member I thereby looking the male and female members I and 5 together. The final position of the cover I1 and the sleeve II is as shown in Fig. 1. In the operation of the check valve 22, the connecting portion 2 of the male member I engages the contacting member 25 and moves the plate member 23 and washer 24 away from the internal shoulder 6 in the female member 5 thereby permitting free flow of fluid through the coupling.

To disconnect the coupling the handle portion I5 of the sleeve II i grasped and pushed longitudinally against the force of the spring I8 until the internal groove I2 of the sleeve II is in alignment with the ball retaining apertures III in the female member 5 to free the ball members 50 from engagement with the groove 4 in the male member I thereby disconnecting the male member I from the female member 5. Upon withdrawal of the male member I, the plate member 23 and washer 24 will be urged to sealing rela- 2. A cylindrical cover I1 is disposed over external shoulder I4 on tionship with the internal shoulder t of the femalemember 3 by the spring 28.

Figs. '1, 8, 9, and 10 show a coupling similar to the coupling shown in Figs. 1 to 6 having a male member 30 with a slotted end portion 3| and groove 32. The female member 33 has a-threaded connecting portion 34, an internal shoulder 35. and a washer 38 disposed adjacent the shoulder 35. The sleeve 31 and cover 33 are the same and operate in the same manner as those described in Fig. 1. The plate member 39 (Fig. 10) is urged against the washer 36 by the spring 40 to form a seal when the coupling is disconnected. The plate member 39 is moved to an open position by the slotted end portion 3I of the male member 30. Except for a few minor changes it will be evident that the construction of the coupling shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is substantially the same as the coupling shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 shows a male coupling member 82 having an apertured end Ill for use in applicant's female member 33.

Fig. 12 shows a coupling with a female member 60 and washer 68 of exactly the same construction as the female member 33 shown in Figs. '1 and 8. Another form of check valve shown particularly in Fig. 13 comprises guiding fins 33 and apertured contacting portion on the plate member 65 of the check valve. In operation, the male member engages the contacting portion 34 upon entering the female member 60 to move the" plate member 65 away from the washer 66 to permit the free flow of fluid. A spring 61 urges the plate member 65 into sealing engagement with the washer 66 when the coupling is disconnected.

' Figs. 14, l5, l6, and 17 show a coupling having a female member 10 and washer 12 of substantially the same construction as the female members 33 and 80 shown in Figs. '1 and 12. A male member 14 has a head II on the connecting portion 1.3 for abutting in sealing relationship with the washer 12. An internal annular washer H11 in the head 1I engages apertured tubular portions 18 of a check valve with a centrally disposed guiding flange 18 having longitudinally extending grooves 19 around the circumference thereof for the passage of fluid. It will be noted that a double seal is provided in this form of coupling and the check valve may be reversed. The guiding flange 18 is made of such width that there is no cooking of the check valve thereby always assuring a perfect seal when the male and female members 10 and 14 are disconnected and a spring 15 urges the flange 11 in sealing relationship with the washer 12 in the female member 10.

In operation, the check valve may be assembled with either tubular end 18 adapted to engage the washer 1Ia in the head 1.I. When the male member 14 is inserted in the female member 10, the washer 1Ia engages the tubular portion 13 to force the flange 11 away from the washer 12 tc; permit the free flow of fluid through the coup ing.

Fig. 17a shows a female member IOII of sub-. stantially the same construction as the female member 10 shown in Fig. 14. The check valve IUI is the same as the check valv shown in Figs. 14 and 17. The particular difference is the use of a conventional male member I02 to engage the check valve IilI. The operation is the same as that described for the check valve and coupling in Fig. 14.

Figs. 18 to 23 show a female member 33 and parts connected therewith of the same constructhe male member tion as the female member and parts connected therewith shown in Fig. 1. A check valve is disposed in the male member 8| rather than in the female member as in Fig. 1. The check valve comprises a flat engaging portion. 82, a shoulder 83, and an annular washer 84 which seats on the internal shoulder 85 in the-male member 8|. The washer 84 and shoulder 83 is pushed away from the internal shoulder 85 of the male member 8| automatically when the male member BI is disposed in the female member 80 and the engaging portion 82 of the check valve engages the internal shoulder 86 in the female member 80. A spring 81 urges the washer B4 and shoulder 83 against the shoulder 85 in the male member 8| to form a seal when the male and female members 80 and bi are disconnected.

The operation of the male and female members 8B and Bi and connecting parts is exactly the same as all those previously described with the exception of the check valve which is disposed in the male member 8i and which is opened by engagement of the engaging portion 32 of the check valve with the internal shoulder st in the female member tit.

Figs. 24, 25, and 26 show a coupling substantiatly the same as that shown in Fig. 18, except for the cup-shaped washer 9b disposed in the female member 9i which engages the end portion iii of fit. The check valve M in the male member as operates in exactly the same manner as the check valve in Fig. 18 and com-. prises a tubular portion as, apertures 99, plate member at, and washer at. The washer as provides sealing engagement with the end and side portions of the end 92 of the male member til. The fluid passes through the apertures it of the tubular portion to when the male and female members are connected together.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a quickly attachable and detachable swiveling coupling which can be coupled by merely inserting the connecting portion of the male member into the female member and which is not the coupling on the ground.

Various chanaesmay be made in the specific embodiment of the present invention without departing from the-spirit thereof, or the scope of the appended claims. I

What I claim is: s

1. In a quicklv attachable and detachable coupli g. in combin tion, a female member having ball re ainin apertures. a ma e member hav ng an a nular gro ve. ball members for enga ing the groove. on said member to connect said male and female members together. a spri g-ur ed sleeve having. a gr o e normally in a i nment with the ball retaining a e tures in said female member. a s ring for urging the groovein said sleeve awa from said ball retain ng apertures in said fema e member, a. cover for housing said sprin and a portion of said sleeve, and a stop member for holding said sleeve on said female member, said ba l members being automatically.

easily disconnected by movement of e '8 tures, a sleeve having an inner annular groove, a spring normally holding the groove in said sleeve in'alignment with said ball retaining apertures in said female member, a stop member for holding said sleeve on said female member and spring means for urging said sleeve over said ball retaining apertures to lock said ball members in engagement with the groove on said male member when said male member is disposed in saidfemale member.

3. In a quickly attachable and detachable coupling as set forth in claim 2 wherein manual means are provided for moving said sleeve against the force of said second-mentioned spring means to align said groove on said sleeve with the ballretaining apertures in said female member to free the balls therein from engagement with the groove on said male member.

4. In a quickly attachable and detachable coupling, in combination, a female member having ball retaining apertures, a male member having an annular groove, ball members disposed in said ball retaining apertures, a sleeve for holding said ball members in engagement with the groove on said male member to secure said male and female members together, said sleeve having a groove normally disposed over said ball retaining apertures to free said ballmembers from engagement with said groove on said male member, a spring for urging the groove on said sleeve to a position in alignment with said ball retaining apertures, a

cover disposed around said sleeve, and a spring in said cover adapted to urge said sleeve in look: ing engagement with said ball members to secure said male and female members together.

5. In a quickly attachable and detachable cou= pling, in combination, a female member having ball retaining apertures, a male member having an annular groove, ball members disposed in said ball retaining apertures, a longitudinally movable sleeve for holding said ball members in engagement with the annular groove in said male memher for securing said male and female members together, said sleeve having a groove normally disposed over the ball-retaining apertures in said female member freeing said ball members for movement in said apertures, a spring member urging the grooved portion of said sleeve over said ball retaining apertures. a cover disposed over a portion of said sleeve, and a spring disposed in said cover urging said sleeve in looking relationship with said ball members when said, male member isentered into said female member.

In a quickly attachable and detachable coupling. in combination; a male member having an annular groove, a female member having radially locked in engagement with the groove on said male member by movement of said sleeve when said cover is moved by said male member upon entrance thereof in said female member.

2. In a quickly attachable and detachable couplingiin combination, a male member having a reduced connecting portion with an annular groove, a female member having ball retaining apertures, ball members disposed in said aperextending apertures, ball members disposed in said apertures means for automatically locking said ball members into engagement with said groove on said male member to secure said male and female members together when said male member is inserted into said female member, and

means movable in the direction of the engaged male member for disengaging said locking means to free said male and female members.

7. A quickly attachable and detachable coupling as set forth in claim 6 wherein a springurged locking sleeve has a groove normally in a position to free said ball members and movable longitudinally to automatically lock said ball members in engagement with the groove on said male member when said male member is inserted into said female member.

ALBERT .T. SCHEIWER. 

